The telling part for the Detroit Red Wings will be how they handle their next game.
They enter Sunday’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks smarting, looking more like last season’s team that mustered points in just over half their games than the up-and-comers they appeared to be this season. Although they have points in four straight games, gaining only one from their 4-3 overtime loss at the Chicago Blackhawks was a disappointment after their two-goal lead in the third period.
Friday’s events were a reminder how tough it is to become a better team.
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“It’s been an emphasis all camp, all going into this season,” Dylan Larkin said. “If we want to make a turn, all the good teams manage the puck well. All the good teams bear down in battles.
“Right now, we’re a little bit hyper in certain situations, and we just need to settle down.”
Larkin missed part of the game after being knocked over from behind and appeared to be in discomfort after returning, but he practiced Saturday and is expected to be available against the Ducks. Having lost Jakub Vrana (player assistance program) and Tyler Bertuzzi (upper body) two games into the season, the Wings are down to 12 forwards, including Larkin.
Larkin scored his second goal of the season Friday, helping the Wings to a 3-1 lead entering the third period. The Blackhawks made it 3-2 within minutes. Then the Wings got a power play — and instead of using it to their advantage, it was the Blackhawks who celebrated a goal. Overtime ended when Lucas Raymond committed a turnover that ended up in Detroit’s net.
“It’s a learning and growing,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “A lot of the egregious mistakes that ended up in the back of our net were direct results from our young guys. The reality is, they have to go through those things to learn from them and improve on them. I think they will.”
The Wings had a one-goal lead late in the third period in their opener, and turned that into a victory. In their second game, they never let up after building a lead. In their third game, they found ways to score, and earned a point with a last-minute goal in regulation. In the fourth game, the Wings had victory in sight — and then lost their composure. It was a tough ending to parse after an overall good start to the season.
“I think it’s been so much better than last year,” Larkin said. “I think guys have made an effort. Guys have really at times — maybe too much of an effort. Newsy came in after the game and said we looked like we wanted it too much. We’re squeezing the stick and when we get chances, we’re hitting the post. Whatever happens, you have to show up the next shift and play as hard as you can.
“When you’re in battles, you’re going to make a play, you’re going to shoot, just take a deep breath and relax.”
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Lalonde described Friday’s third-period experience as “painful” and said he is “interested to see how this team responds. I told the guys after, the will is there, the want is there, it’s just executing and managing your game.”
After a leisurely week, in which they played just twice in five days, the Wings are grateful to have the Ducks at Little Caesars Arena so soon.
“This one is one we want to get back and play,” Larkin said. “It’s an early start against a team that’s hungry for a win, so we have to be ready to go at home.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.
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Her latest book, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.